Oh, to live in DC. . .
Public Forum co-sponsored by Center for American Progress and OpenTheGovernment.org: CLASSIFIED: Ensuring Congressional Access to National Security Information
March 30, 2007, 12:30pm – 2:00pm
The Constitution gives Congress broad authority to oversee and investigate the activities of the executive branch. If Congress is to carry out that authority, it must have access to many kinds of government information, including classified or sensitive national security information which government agencies may be reluctant to reveal.
How do Congress and the executive branch strike a proper balance between the congressional need to have such information and the government’s duty to protect it? What options does Congress have when the government refuses to provide the information it requests? When is it appropriate for Congress to make national security information available to the public and the press?